Miss-Delectable
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Suspect in '81 murder makes bail :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Chicago Crime
The man arrested two weeks ago in the 1981 murder of his deaf high school girlfriend is walking free again.
Gary Albert, 45, got out of Cook County Jail on Saturday after his father posted $100,000 bail, sources said. His bond had been set at $1 million after his arrest for the murder of Dawn Niles. But as in most felony cases, Albert was able to get out of jail by putting up 10 percent.
Niles' sister, Heather Hunziker, said she felt "awful" about Albert's release.
"I went on the inmate Web site last night, and his name wasn't on there," Hunziker said. "I was kind of looking forward to him being in jail for a while."
Penny Mateck, a spokeswoman for Sheriff Tom Dart, confirmed Albert was released on Saturday.
Albert and his father could not be reached for comment. His lawyer did not return calls.
Prosecutors allege Albert, who is also deaf, stabbed Niles more than 30 times and left her body in a Palos Township forest preserve. Hikers discovered Niles' body six days later.
Niles was 15 at the time and Albert was 18. Both attended Hinsdale South High School, which had a program for deaf students. At the time of her murder, Niles had recently learned she was pregnant with Albert's child.
2005 conviction
The family and police always suspected Albert, according to Hunziker and other sources.
Hunziker spent years waging a personal campaign to get authorities to look at the case again. Two years ago, then-Sheriff Michael Sheahan reopened the investigation. With technological advances, DNA evidence, and fresh interviews of witnesses, sheriff's investigators and the Cold Case unit of the state's attorney's office built enough of a case to bring charges against Albert, sources said.
Albert, of Sugar Grove, was convicted of a misdemeanor in 2005 for setting up a video camera in his stepdaughter's bathroom.
The man arrested two weeks ago in the 1981 murder of his deaf high school girlfriend is walking free again.
Gary Albert, 45, got out of Cook County Jail on Saturday after his father posted $100,000 bail, sources said. His bond had been set at $1 million after his arrest for the murder of Dawn Niles. But as in most felony cases, Albert was able to get out of jail by putting up 10 percent.
Niles' sister, Heather Hunziker, said she felt "awful" about Albert's release.
"I went on the inmate Web site last night, and his name wasn't on there," Hunziker said. "I was kind of looking forward to him being in jail for a while."
Penny Mateck, a spokeswoman for Sheriff Tom Dart, confirmed Albert was released on Saturday.
Albert and his father could not be reached for comment. His lawyer did not return calls.
Prosecutors allege Albert, who is also deaf, stabbed Niles more than 30 times and left her body in a Palos Township forest preserve. Hikers discovered Niles' body six days later.
Niles was 15 at the time and Albert was 18. Both attended Hinsdale South High School, which had a program for deaf students. At the time of her murder, Niles had recently learned she was pregnant with Albert's child.
2005 conviction
The family and police always suspected Albert, according to Hunziker and other sources.
Hunziker spent years waging a personal campaign to get authorities to look at the case again. Two years ago, then-Sheriff Michael Sheahan reopened the investigation. With technological advances, DNA evidence, and fresh interviews of witnesses, sheriff's investigators and the Cold Case unit of the state's attorney's office built enough of a case to bring charges against Albert, sources said.
Albert, of Sugar Grove, was convicted of a misdemeanor in 2005 for setting up a video camera in his stepdaughter's bathroom.